Machine for making partitions



April 28, 1953 D. F. CUNNINGHAM 2,636,423

MACHINE FOR MAKING PARTITIONS Filed March 24. 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet l o INVENTOR. Donald E 3y Cunnin Pg? April 28, 1953 D. F. CUNNINGHAM MACHINE FOR MAKING PARTITIONS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24. 1948 INVENTOR. Donald [Cunning/2am April 28, 1953 D. F. CUNNINGHAM MACHINE FOR MAKING PARTITIONS 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Donald fawning/1am, 7%,Du4/ 5W Filed March 24. 1948 Ap 1953 D. F. CUNNINGHAM. 2,636,423

MACHINE FOR MAKING PARTITIONS Filed March 24, 1948 '9 Sheets-Sheet 4 I IN V EN TOR. DanaZd FCw/IGIU April 28, 1953 D. F. CUNNINGHAM MACHINE FOR MAKING PARTITIONS 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 24. 1948 L, INVENTOR. Donald FCwm ham p 1953 D. F. CUNNINGHAM 2,636,423

MACHINE FOR MAKING PARTITIONS Filed March 24, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 a y i 3- x 1 m K p N HSJJ I f 0, J Q L: i a 8 is a INVENTOR. Donald/'5 y Cunning/2am,

April 28, '1953 D. F. CUNNINGHAM MACHINE FOR MAKING PARTITIONS 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 24. 1948 INVENTOR. Dmald 1'? 602mm 1m Ap 1953 D. F. CUNNINGHAM 2,636,423

MACHINE FOR MAKING PARTITIONS 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 24, 1948 INVENTOR.

Hr J

giisg b i em 8 n n m d M April 1953 D. F. CUNNINGHAM 2,636,423

MACHINE FOR MAKING PARTITIONS Filed March 24, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 IN V EN TOR.

Donald E Cmm'gham i 9 v a a ?5 Patented Apr. 28', 1953 umifco smifss PATENT OFFICE;

C aim The invention relates. to improvemen s ma.- chines for making container partitions cons sting of longitudinal and transverse paperboard strips having their opposite edges notched and slotted for interfitting and connection ofthe strips to form the walls of, for example, bottle cells. 1

The machine with which the present invention is more particularly concerned is of a type Wherein two horizontally disposed relatively Wide webs of paper, chipboard, cardboard, or othe suitable sheet material, are operated upon byseparate sets of punches and dies to. form notched or slotted openings in the respective webs as the webs are fed into the machine stepsby-lstep. .One of the webs, after beingdie punched, is slit into longitudinal ribbons or strips which are then turned into vertically edgewise spaced parallel positions. The vertically disposed ribbons are out to predetermined lengths, these partition lengths being then fed into and. through an assembly zone in Step':hy-:Stp manner. The end margin of the other Web is brought into, edgewise interlocking engagement with the outermost notches of said longitudinal severed lengths and is then severed transversely to form one of the transverse strips, there being one such transverse strip formed and interlocked in each step of the step by=step advance of the severed lengths. When the desired number of transverse strips has been applied to the longitudinal severed lengths to provide a finished collapsibl hal lit qlh sai partition is ejected from the machine,

Known types of machines of this character are not entirely satisfactory from the standpoint of p t ng iency Which, in some ins ances sults from improperly constructed cutting mechanism for severing the strips or ribbons, and in other instances because no means is provided to retain the ribbons slack prior to their being fed to the ribbon severing mechanism, Machines that retain the strips or ribbons taut at all times during their passage through the machine must be stopped frequently because the undue tension imposed upon the ribbons causes said ribbons to tear.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel fully automatic partition making machine which overcomes the def ciencies in such machines heretofore devised, and which .efficien-tly fulfills its intended functions.

Another object is to provide, in a machine pf the character referred to, a novelly constructed cutter or shearing mechanism operable to sever the longitudinal strips or ribbons hotels the hil tition is assembled.

Anothe ob ect s to rQ idB, a ma his 9 th kind referred to with simple. and eflicient means to. urn he l ngitudin l rib ons. fr m a ho zon into. verti al y cdccW-ise Pos o A h r ob t s to r i in. a machine. Q this kind, simple, eificient and novel means tor cuisine. s ac n and dns h vert al y ed wise positioned longitudinal trips or ribbons into positions to e se d. in o rede ermine lengths, and means tor continuing the severed le hs nt an h ugh a s mbly z e I Another object is to provide a novel partition forming machine in which a battery of dies and punches simultaneouslypunches a eb portion from whi h a s t o len itu i a i ion en t is slit and ut in ime r io t h com et asse bly wit io ly pun hed. s i and cu longitudinal partition lengths of a predetermined number of transverse partition lengths.

Another ob ect s t pro ide anc l mechanism to coordinate the operation of punches dies and cutters wi h the step-W ston a a ce of e W and strips.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mac n of he Charac e d ibed which is simpl and durabl c nstr c ed, h s a la mitput capac t nd c n e adapted. ea ily an quickly to make partitions of different dimensions in every particular.

Another Object is to provide a partition formins and s m lin ma h n w h dua ee means f r t e We and rib s ash d t erefrom nd ith mean o n in th ri bo slack while passing from one feed means to the other.

no he ob ec s s ro de means hereb t bb n of p r e nd mm the s i n me hanism to the c tte m h n m ll. re ai k, nd o su or s c sl ck r bbons! l t avcid. r n o th ribb ns shqu d he rela hanisms be out of op r tiona Pi af-i6.-

Other and further objects of the present inven tion will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show an exemplary embodiment and the principles thereof. Qther embodiments oi the invention embodying the same principle may be used, and structural changes may be made as desired b os ki l d in the a t. i hout departin from th present ill llliqll and the ll f ls f he ppended l ims n t e 'si awins Fi i id? iliil i ii llfil v ew 9? 9 .15 t a partition a ri ating a d a s machin eete vics lectures o th Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the other end of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the machine, showing the medial portion thereof broken away, looking at the machine from the side opposite to that at which the machine in Figs. 1 and 2 is viewed;

Fig. 4 is a vertical central sectional view of the end of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, showing portions thereof in elevation and omitting nonessential details of construction;

Fig. 5 is a central sectional view of the end of the machine shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view partly broken away of the end of the machine illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the horizontal web slitting and feeding mechanism, taken substantially on line 8-3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing the drive connection for the slitting and feeding roller mechanism, taken substantially on line 9-9 of the end of Fig. 8;

. shearing mechanism, taken substantially on line l3-l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig/14 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially along the line i k-l4 of Fig. 12;

Figs. 15 and 16 are schematic sectional elevational views of the shearing mechanism showing the reciprocal cutter in each of its two positions of rest;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reciprocal cutter showing one knife thereof in a cutting position assumed during a cutting operation while the cutter is moving from the rest position shown in Fig. 16 into the rest position shown in Fig. 15; and

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 17, but showing the cutter knife in a cutting position assumed while the cutter is moving from the rest position shown in Fig. 15 into the rest position illustrated in Fig. 16.

- Referring to the accompanying drawings, the improved partition making and assembling machine includes suitable side frame members H for supporting various mechanisms thereof. At the end of the machine illustrated in Fig. 2, which may be termed the feed-in end, there is provided a laterally extending block-plate l2, which is mounted at its ends on the side frames H and is provided with die openings [3 (Fig. 5), and a horizontal vertically reciprocal crosshead i l carrying three transverse rows of suitable punches It: for simultaneously operating on a web it of paper, cardboard, chipboard, or the like, which is fed horizontally into the machine between tensioning plates I! from a suitable supply source, not illustrated. The crosshead IQ is mounted at its end on vertically disposed guide posts i8 and is adapted to reciprocate vertically thereon during machine operation so as to punch threespaced rows of suitable openings or slots I9 in the web It at each stationary interval as it is fed between the crosshead and block-plate by a step-by-step motion by mechanism and means to be described presently.

Operation of the punch and die mechanism, as well as the operation of other mechanism embodied in the machine and to be specifically described hereinafter, is efiected through the operation of a single power source. Such power source may include a motor 2| arranged within the machine frame and having suitable connections, not shown, with a horizontally extending drive shaft 22, which shaft is operatively connected to the specific drives for the various mechanisms. Inasmuch as the various drive means connecting the driven shaft 22 with the operating mechanisms of the various parts of this machine do not constitute a feature of the present invention, such mechanisms have been omitted from the disclosure, it being sufiicient to note that means is provided whereby operation of the driven shaft 22 imparts continuous rotation to a transverse shaft 23 journalled at its ends in the side frames ll below the reciprocal crosshead M. The shaft 23 carries at each end an eccentric 24 (Figs. 2 and 3) with which is operatively associated one end of a link structure 25 having its other end connected as at 23 to the crosshead l4. Obviously, continuous rotation of the shaft 23 will impart vertical reciprocation of the crosshead.

The transverse shaft 23 also carries at one end, as illustrated in Fig. 3, a bell-crank bearing block 2'1 having mounted for adjustment therein a slide journal 28 including a trunnion 29 to which is connected one end of a rack bar 3|. The link 3! extends upwardly and forwardly of the machine and its free end is slidably mounted in a yoke 32 freely journalled on a transverse shaft 33 which projects out of one of the end housings 34 of a web feeding and slitting mechanism generally indicated in Fig. 5 at 35. The shaft 33 has a ratchet 36 secured firmly thereon which ratchet is adapted to be engaged intermittently by a pawl 31 carried on the end of a radial arm 38 rotatably journalled on said shaft 33 and having a gear segment 39 at one end thereof which meshes with rack teeth 4! on one edge of the rack bar 3!. It should be evident that continuous rotation of the driven shaft 23 will. impart longitudinal reciprocal motion to the rack bar 3| to thereby oscillate the arm 38 and consequently impart step-by-step rotation to said shaft 33 through the pawl and ratchet engagement. In each stroke of the rack bar 3 I, sufficient rotation is imparted to the shaft I 33 to move the web l6 through mechanism described below a linear distance equal to the length of the longitudinal partition lengths to be cut from the punched portion.

The shaft 33 extends through the end housings 34 and carries within one of said housings a gear 32 (Fig. 9) which meshes at all times with an idler gear 43 mounted upon a fixed idler shaft .4 within said end housing. Also journalled in said end housings 34 and extending transversely across the machine frame are a plurality of rotatable shafts 45 and 46. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 9, the shafts 45 and the shafts 4B are arranged in pairs, one of each pair on each side of the shaft 33 and the other of each pair on each side of the idler shaft 44. The lower shafts of each pair of shafts 45 and 46 are firmly journalled as at 41in suitable bearings providedin onewall shafts 58.

of each end housing 34, as is best shown in'wFig.

8, which illustrates the mounting for one set of shafts. The upper shafts. of each pair of shafts E5 and 55 are journalled in bearing blocks 48 which, as illustrated in Fig. 8, are: held in spaced relationship above the fixed journals 4! as by means of springs 49, and may be adjusted downwardly against the tension of said springs by adjusting screws 5! which are threaded into tapped opening in the top of the end housings and coact with the top surface of the movable bearing blocks 48.

Each of the lower transverse shafts t5 and 46 carries a gear 52 (Fig. 9) within the end housing 34 which meshes at all times with the driven gear &2. The two upper shafts A5 and 4-6 likewise carry gears 523 which mesh at all times with the idler gear 43. Thus, it will be observed that, upon step-by-step rotation of the shaft 33, the transverse shafts #35 and it will be rotated intermittently.

The shafts and 46 each carry a plurality of feed rollers 5d and 55, respectively, fixed thereto for rotation thereby. The feed rollers 54 are spaced apart longitudinally along both shafts 45 Figs. 5 and 7) and are adapted to frictionally coact with opposed faces of the web 16 which passes therebetween. Intermittent rotation of these rollers intermittently advances the web through the punch and die mechanism in a stepby-step motion, each advance being preceded by actuation of the punch and die mechanism which operates to punch out laterally spaced notched slots E9 in said web. The web fed between the friction feed rollers 54 is delivered to and passes between the friction roller 55 on the rotatable Upon referring specifically to Fig. 8, it will be observed that the friction rollers 55 also are spaced apart longitudinally on the shafts 4E and they, like feed rollers 5-3, embrace opposite faces of the web to facilitate its being fed therethrough and to prevent distortion of the web during the slitting operation to be described.

The shafts 46 also carry a plurality of cutting or slitting wheels 51 which are spaced apart longitudinally on said shafts preferably one between adjacent friction rollers 55. The slitting wheels 51 on the lower shaft -lii coact with the'slitting wheels 5? on the upper shaft 48 to sever or slit the web as it passes through the feeding mechanism. The slitting of the web in a manner described provides a plurality of strips or ribbons 538 of a width corresponding to the height of the collapsible partitions which are fabricated and assembled in the present machine. Inasmuch as the machine is adapted to fabricate partitions of various sizes, the slitting wheels 5"! are adjustable along the shafts 65. Such adjustment of the slitting wheels may best be effected by providing each of the wheels with a fixed collar 59 having a setscrew Bl therein which may be loosened to facilicylindrical sha'ped sheet metal wall "i2 which extends downwardly between the side frames H.

Tangling or inadvertent displacement of the plurali-ty of ribbons =58 passing through the-..troug-h H is best prevented by providing said trough with a plurality of separators '13 which are substantially semicircular in outline and are adjustably mounted, as by means of bolts and wing nuts 14, on a transverse overhead bar 15 extending between the side frames and having its ends firmly secured thereto as at l6. It should Ice-observed that when the strips or ribbons 58 enter the rough H they lie in a substantially horizontal plane. Prior to the assembly of the partitions, said ribbons are moved into substantially vertical or upright positions.

Twisting of the ribbons 58 out of the horizontal plane and into a vertical plane may be effected substantially at their point of emergence from the trough li. Upon referring. to Figs. 4 and 6, it will be observed that each ribbon 58' passes between a pair of posts 8| projecting upwardly from a transverse bar 82 mounted on a top. wall 83 bridging between the frame members H and extending forwardly from the discharge end of the trough l l The ribbons passing between the posts 8i are then threaded through. a spacer guide 8 3 also mounted on the top wall 83, which. guide is best shown in Figs. 4 and 6.v Asv illustrated, the guide b t is substantially funnel-shaped at its forward or ribbon receiving end and is provided with a plurality of pairs of vertical walls 85 between each pair of which one of the ribbons extends. These pairs of walls 85 are spaced apart laterally of the machine distances corresponding to the desired spacing of the ribbons or strips in an assembled partition; As the ribbons 53 leave the funnel-shaped spacing guide 84, they are threaded through severing or shearing mechanism which is generally indicated at 8B. This severing mechanism will be described in detail hereinafter.

Suitable reciprocal positive feed means is provided on either side of the severing mechanism 156 for simultaneously feeding the ribbons 58 through the severing mechanism. 86 and severed length 58 forwardly therefrom. Such feed means is best shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and each includes a horizontally reciprocal bedplate 9i having plurality of sets of yieldable fingers 92, the sets being spaced apart transversely of the machine distances corresponding to the spacing of the ribbons 58. In the structure shown, each set includes two fingers 92 spaced apart distances equal to spacing between slots 19 whichare adapted to engage the slots it) of aribbon 58 or a severed length 58 to urge the same into contact with smooth backing plates Q3 associated therewith and to move the same therea long. Mechanism for reciprocating the bedplate 9i longitudinally of the machine so as to advance the ribbons 58 and the severed lengths 58 in a step-by-step movement is shown in Fig, 4. As there illustrated, each bedplate 9! is operatively connected toa rock arm as by a slotted member' ii secured to each bedplate 91. Each rock arm 8:! is mounted on one of a pair of cscillatably rotatable shafts 96 (Fig. l) which are operatively connected in a manner to be described hereinafter with the power source.

In operation, the bedplates 9! move forwardly from a position of rest a distance sufficient to ad- Vance the ribbons 58 andseveredlengths 58 engaged by the fingers 92 a distance-corresponding to the spacing between the notched'slotsit therein.' The'slots were the severed lengths 58 are adapted to receive in engagement therewith transverse partition strips lWtFig; 4) whicna're nested therewith during subsequently described opera- I tions. Upon their return movement, the fingers 02 ride freely over the ribbons 58 and severed lengths 58 and stationary spring fingers 92 engage and prevent the ribbons 58 and severed lengths 58 from being carried rearwardly therewith. Before entering into a detail discussion of such subsequently described operations, reference is had to the feed mechanism and forming dies and cutters provided on the present machine for fabricating the transverse partition strips I00.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 4 and 6, it will be observed that the machine end there depicted is provided with a transverse block-plate IOI having suitable die openings therein, and a transverse crosshead I02 carrying punches I03 which cooperate with the die openings in the block-plate WI. The crosshead I02 is mounted for vertical reciprocation on guide posts I04 firmly anchored at their lower ends on the side frame members II. Vertical reciprocation of the .crosshead I02 is obtained upon rotation of a driven shaft I05 (Fig. 4) carrying an eccentric I 06 (Fig. 1) having a link structure I! operatively associated therewith and which terminates terial I I0 passing between the crosshead and the block-plate. This web, which is perforated in th manner described, constitutes the material from which the transverse partition strips I00 are fabricated. As the web H0 passes out from beneath the crosshead I02, it is carried upwardly and over a semicircular transversely extending guide wall III, mounted between the upper ends of frame standards II2 on vertical spaced threaded shafts Ill from where it is carried downwardly ina vertical plane between a driven feed roll mechanism generally indicated at H3.

This feed roll mechanism II3 includes feed rolls H4 and H5, which are mounted on transverse shafts I16 and I I1, respectively. The shafts H6 and Ill are geared together so as to rotate in unison in opposite directions. The shaft I50 has a conventional backup prevention brake W on one end (Fig. l) The other end of the shaft I I6 extends outwardly of one of the standards I I2 (Fig. 3) and carries on its projecting end a .ratchet II8.- A pawl II9 carried on one end of a radial arm I20 loosely mounted about the shaft I I6 coacts with the ratchet I I8 and is adapted to impart step-by-step rotation to the shaft I I6 when the arm I20 is moved in a counterclockwise direction. Rotation of the arm I20 about the shaft I I0 is effected through a gear and rack connection generally indicated at I2I wherein rack teeth I22 are provided on one edge of a rack bar I23 slidable in a hanger bracket I24. The rack bar I23 extends downwardly at an angle forwardly, and has its lower end pivotally connected as at I25 to a bearing block I26 adiustably mounted in an eccentric block I2I mounted on V and rotatable with the driven transverse shaft 105. A skip effecting member I28 is secured to the upper end of a vertically reciprocating shaft I29 mounted on a driven rotatable shaft I30 through an eccentric I30* The free edge of the 1 member I28 is arcuate and smooth as indicated at, I28 and is raised to receive the pawl H9 on 1 each, fourth strokethereof to prevent movement lated severed lengths 58 feed rollers I I4 and H5 so as to intermittently advance the Web IIO downwardly vertically.

The operation and intermittent step-by-step actuation of the feed mechanisms for the ribbons 58 and severed lengths and the web IIO is coordinated in such manner that step-by-step -advance of the ribbons 58 and severed lengths 50 positions one of the recessed slots I9 in each parallel severed length 58 in vertical alignment below the end of the web IIO between each of its step-by-step advances downwardly between the feed rollers H4 and H5. The web H0 is advanced while the ribbons 58 and severed lengths 58"- are at rest between step-by-step advances, so that the lower marginal portion is nested into the notched slots I0 of the severed lengths 58 to provide a transverse strip connecting said lengths 00 in the spaced relation. After the lower marginal portion of the web H0 has been carried downwardly into nested position with the related severed lengths 00, suitable shearing mechanism, generally indicated at I3I, is brought into play to sever the nested end margin of the web H0 from the remaining portion thereof.

The shearing mechanism 53$ is best disclosed in Figs. 1 and 4 where it will be observed that it includes a stationary inclined cutter blade I32 which is located with its cutting edge in substantial contact with one face of the web IIO. A movable cutter blade I33 is located on the opposite face of the web I I0 preferably substantially at right angles to the cutter blade E32. This cutter blade I33 is carried in a transverse crosshead I3 3 mounted at its ends on posts I35 so as to be movable towards and away from the web H0 through operation of mechanisms to be described in detail presently. Such reciprocal movement of the cutter blade I33 shears the web H0 at the lower ends of the slots I09, and such shearing occurs immediately following the nesting of the lower margin of said web into the re- It is noted here that the shearing takes place in substantial alignment with the top edges of the lengths 58 hence, no tarnping is required to align the top edges of the lengths 50 and the transverse strips I00.

Referring now to the disclosure in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the crosshead I30 carrying the movable cutter blade 633 has trunnions I35 on its ends on which are pivotally mounted the upper ends it? of a pair of links I38 which have their-lower ends connected, as at 39, to a lever MI mounted firmly on an oscillatable shaft M2 which extends transversely of and through the frame members II. The oscillatable shaft I42 is operatively connected with the drive shaft 22 in a conventional "tanner that does not constitute a part of the present invention and consequently is not disclosed in detail. It should be noted, however, that the shaft I42 is oscillated in timed sequence to the step-by-step feeding of the web IIO.

In the assembly of the partitions, the severed lengths 58 are advanced step-by-step to successively locate a predetermined number of notched slots H9 in positions to receive transverse partition with the longitudinal severed lengths 50 the assembled partition is discharged from the machine down an incline I 43, the discharge being assisted by atimed blast of air emitted through an air jet I48 located closely adjacent to the fixed cutting blade I32.

Referring now to the particular mechanism for reciprocating the ribbon feeding and tensioning means carried on the bedplates III and operatively connected to oscillate rotatable shafts 95, reference is again had to Fig. 1. As there shown, each shaft 96 carries a gear I 53 on an end projecting outwardly to one side of one of the side frames II. The gears I53 are operatively associated with like rack bars I54 carried on the upper ends of like link assemblie I55 which are pivoted at wit-456 and have their lower ends I? operatively connected as by means of link bars I58 and I59 to an eccentric block ItI adjustably mounted in a bearing block I 62 carried on the end of the rotatable shaft Itt. This drive connection is such that, upon continuous rotation of the shaft I85, the link bars 558 and IE9 are reciprocated to impart reciprocal oscillation to the link assemblies I55 and thereby reciprocate the rack bars I54 to effect limited ro tation of both shafts 95 in bothdirections. Thus, it will be noted that the feed rollers for ad" vancing the web mechanisms have a common drive-in shaft IE5.

The ribbon severing or shearing mechanism generally indicatedat B6 is best illustrated in Figs. through 18-, inclusive. Upon referring to Fig. 10, it will be observed! that the shearing mechanism 36 is centrally mounted upon the machine midway between the side frames II, said mounting including a horizontal bedplate- I'II mounted at its edges on angle bars I72 which are firmly secured, as bolts I13,- to said side frames. The bedplate "I='I- is provided with an opening I'hlthrough which operating means for the shearing mechanism extends. upwardly from the bedpl'ate I'I I is a pair of spaced parallel plates I and I 'I B. The front plate I15, which is disposed substantially yer-- tically, has a plurality of vertical slots ll? therein which are spaced apart longitudinally thereof distances corresponding to "the spacing between the ribbons 58'. The other, or rear, plate H6 is similarly provided with slotted. vertical openings I'l -3, which openings are substanti'aliy coextensive with the: slotsTIiTIL'I and in registering alignment therewith- However, the openings Illii are considerably'wider than theaslots I 'fi for'purposes that will be understood as the discussion pro- The plates I15 and? H56 are'iheld in spaced ceeds. relationship by end spacers 'l 'lil and the assembly is firmly secured at each end, as by bolts It I, to mounting brackets: I:82;;which' brackets are when the latter are .threadedt'through the regis teringr openings IT! and" H8; The upper and lower margins of the substantially rectangular openings I851 in the reciprocal plate It' l are suitably recessed, as at 185;110 aiford -mounting sur faces for cutter-blades indicated generally by the numeral I811 Figs.'15 and 17-, acutterblade is -mount'ed in each opening I-'85; These blades each- 'consistof v a III and the ribbon feeding Extending As is perhapsbest shown in 19 substantially H-shaped configuration with'th'e bar I88 of the H inclined slightly out of the ver tical and the leg portions I89 of said H rested in the recesses I86. Suitable machine screws I 90 are provided to secure the cutter blades in place firmly on the reciprocal plate ISA.

The cutting edges of the vertically inclined cutter blades I8! are adapted to cooperate with fixed cutting edges associated therewith. As best shown in Figs. 12, 14 and 1S, fixed cutting edges are provided upon a series of vertically disposed bars ISI, one of which is-disposed on either side of each vertical slot It"! in the front plate I15. Each of the bars I 9i has a substantially V- shaped edge I92 which defines cutting edge I93 disposed in close proximity to the related cutter blade Iill. Each bar sen is mounted for adjustment towards and away from the related cut-- tor blade so as to be adjustable with relation to said blade for insuring the prop-er shearing of a ribbon extended therethrough. Such adjustment is best effected by providing a plurality of pressure screws Hi l in the front plate I15, which screws have their inner ends bearing against one face of the related bar IBI as shown in Fig. 14. Preferably, four such screws are provided in the area of each mounting screw I 95. It should be evident that the bars Isl may be moved towards or away from the cutter blades I8] upon initially loosening the pressure screws I94 and then adjusting the position of the bars I-9I by manipulation of the holding screws I95, after which the pressure screws ltd may again be moved into firm contact with the newly positioned bar ISI.

In operation, the reciprocal plate ltd carrying the cutter blades I 8? is moved in one direction on y each time the ribbons 58 are to be sheared. The construction of the cutter blades ldl' is such that either edge of the bar portion I38 thereof may cooperate with one or the other shearing edge I93 of the related bars I I9. Thus, when the ribbons extend through the openings I of the reciprocal plate ,IS I on the left hand side of the cutter bars I81, as is illustrated in Figs. 15 and 18, the ribb-ons'will be sheared by said cutter bar when said plate :is moved to the left. The reciprocal plate I 84 remains in this position while the ribbons 58 are again fed step-.by-step through the shearing mechanism. This results inthe ribbons passing through the openings I85 on the right hand side of the cutter bars I'd-I, :as-

est indicated in Fig. 17. As soon as apredetermined number of step-by-step advances have ocon the ri ht hand side thereof during the subsequent feeding operation. This intermittent movement of the reciprocal plate M4 is repeated following the assembly of successive partitions.

If desired; stabilizing plates I.EI6.I.III may be secured to the outside face of the rear plate I It,

preferable that hydl-aulic means be provided owing to the necessity-of positive operation in both-directions. Uponagainreferringto Fig. 1d,

will be observed that the reciprocal plate It'd has a lug-i251?- depending downwardly through the opening I14 in the bedplate ill. The upper end of a link 202, which is pivotally mounted at 203 to a crossbar 204, has a pin and slot connection, as at 205, with the depending portion The lower end of said link 202 is connected, as at 286, to the end of a piston rod 20? extending out of a hydraulic cylinder 208 which, for freedom of operation, is pivotally mounted at 209 on a bracket 2 ll firmly secured to the inside face of one of the side frames Ii. A piston carried on the piston rod within the cylinder 288 is actuated in both directions by means of hydraulic pressure obtained from any suitable source so as to be actuated in timed sequence to the actuation of the feeding and assembling mechanism. In this manner, the piston rod 201 will move in one direction or the other each time a predetermined number of transverse partition strips has been assembled with the ribbons.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it should be quite evident that the machine as a whole is capable of embodying a wide variety of modifications in detail structure. It should be evident also that the ribbon shearing or cutting mechanism in particular is such as to insure clean and positive shearing of the ribbons at predetermined intervals of machine operation, and that said mechanism may embody modifications in its detail structure and in its mode of operation, all Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame structure, vertically reciprocal web-punching mechanism, step-by-step Web-feeding mechanism including slitting means for slitting the web into ribbons all located at one end of the frame structure, reciprocatable ribbon feeding mechanisms, ribbon severing mechanism, and severed partition lengths feeding mechanism for feeding severed partition lengths to and through an assembly zone all located between the ends of said frame structure, and web-punching, feeding and severing mechanisms at the other end of said machine, said last mentioned feeding mechanism being disposed to feed a web into an assembly zone into interengaging relationship with severed partition lengths, said last-named severing mechanism being operable to cut the last-named web into transversely disposed partition lengths after interengagement of the web-end with severed partition lengths in the assembly zone, and means actuable to operate all of said mechanisms in timed sequence so as to deliver partition lengths cut from the ribbons and transversely disposed partition lengths to and through an assembly zone as set forth.

2. In a partition assembling machine, webpunching means, web feeding means and means for slitting the web into ribbons, ribbon-severing means, ribbon-feeding means operable to move the ribbons intermittently at a different rate from said web feeding means, means between the web-slitting means and the ribbon-feeding means for turning the ribbons from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane, said ribbon-feeding means comprising reciprocatable elements yieldably biased towards engaged ribbons, and a partitioned trough disposed to receive and guide the ribbons during their travel between the slitting means and said elements, said trough being of suflicient depth to provide slack in the ribbons between said web slitting means and said ribbon severing means.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of side frame members, vertically reciprocable web-punching mechanism, step-bystep rotative feed roll mechanism for feeding the web in a horizontal plane, slitters in said feed roll mechanism for slitting the web into ri'bbons, a trough to receive said ribbons having a bottom below the normal plane of the ribbons, guide means at the discharge end of said trough for turning the ribbons from a horizontal into a vertical position, a cutter assembly, and step-bystep feed means operable at a different rate from said feed roll mechanism to feed the ribbons through the cutter assembly after leaving said guide means.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame structure and means thereon for guiding and severing a plurality of ribbons of paper, said means comprising guides, one for each ribbon, ribbon-feeding mechanism, ribbon-severing mechanism, guide means for maintaining severed ribbon portions in edgewise positions, and feeding mechanism for the severed portions of the ribbons for feeding the same forwardly in their edgewise positions, respectively arranged in the order named, said severed portions feeding mechanism being disposed for feeding severed ribbon portions through an assembly zone.

5. In a method of automatically forming partitions, the steps of advancing one web of material of which partition lengths are formed through punching and slitting zones and into a slack zone at one intermittent rate of movement, withdrawing slit ribbons of web from the slack zone and feeding them through a partition lengths severing zone at another rate of intermittent movement, simultaneously advancing a second web through punching and partition lengths severing zones at an intermittent rate of movement, assembling end portions of the second web with severed partition lengths of the one web in an assembly zone, and severing each end portion of the second web after assembly.

6. In a method of automatically forming partitions, the steps of simultaneously intermittently feeding two webs of material towards an assembly zone, separately die punchin each web, slitting one web into ribbons of widths equal to the'desired depth of the partitions, severing the ribbons into partition lengths, feeding the ribbons to and through the point of severing at an intermittent rate diiTerent from the feeding rate of the original web from which the ribbons are formed, holding the ribbons slack intermediate slitting and severing zones, feeding the severed partition lengths of the one web through an assembly zone, and assembling partition lengths of the other web with the partition lengths of the one Web as the latter pass through the assembly zone.

7. In a partition making machine, in combination, means for die punching a web of partition forming material, means for slitting the web into ribbons, means for feeding the web to and through said punching and slitting means, means for feeding the ribbons at a different rate from said web feeding means, means for turning the ribbons into vertical parallel positions, trough means between the turning means and the slitting means for receiving the ribbons having a depth to permit substantial slack in the ribbons, means for severing the ribbons into partition lengths, means for feeding the severed partition lengths through a partition assembly zone in parallel spaced positions, means for die punching a second web of material, means for feeding the second web to and through said punching means and for feeding the free end of the second web into transverse relation with the parallel partition lengths, means for severing the ireeend of the second web after being fed into assembled relation with the parallel partition lengths, and means for actuating all of said means intermittently and in timed relationship.

8. In a partition making machine, in combina tion, means for die punching a predetermined linear portion of a web of partition forming-mater'ial throughout the area thereof from which a plurality of partition lengths may be formed by predetermined slitting and cutting, means for slitting the web into ribbons, means for feeding the web to and through said punching "and slitting means, means "for feeding the ribbons at a difierent rate from said web feeding means, means for turning the ribbons into vertical parallel positions, trough means between the turning means and the slitting means for receiving the ribbons having a depth to permit substantial s'lackinthe ribbons, means for severing the ribbons into partition =lengths, means for feeding the severed partition "lengths through a partition assembly zone in parallel spaced positions, means for die punchingasecondweb of material, means for feeding the second web to and through said punching means and for feeding the free end of the second web into transverse relation with the parallel partition lengths, means for severing the free end of the second web after being fed into assembled relation with the parallel'partition lengths, and means for actuating all of said means intermittently and intime-d relationship.

"9. In combination, a partition making machine comprising intermittently operable mechanisms for separately feeding two webs of materialof which said partitions are made towards a partition-assembly zone, separate mechanisms for intermittently die punching the webs, means for cycling one of said die punching mechanisms and means for cycling said other die punching mechanism a predetermined number of cycles for each predetermined time increment of operation of said machine, means for slitting into 'ribr bons the web punched by said one die punching mechanism, means for severing the ribbons into partition lengthsmeansfor feeding-the partition lengths through the partition assembly zone, means for guidingthe other Web for intermittent intersection of the free end with the partition lengths out from the ribbons, means for severing the 'free end portion of the other web after each intersection with the'partition lengths, and means for actuating all of said mechanisms and means intermittently and in timed relationship.

'10. In a machine of the character'de'scr'ibed, the combination .of side frame members, vertically reciprocable web-punching mechanism, step-bystep rotative feed roll mechanism for feeding the web in a horizontalplane, slitters in said feed roll mechanism for slitting the web into ribbons, "a trough toreceive said ribbons having a bottom below -the normal plane of the ribbons, guide means at :the discharge end of said trough 'for turning the ribbons from a horizontal into a verticalposition, a cutter assembly, step-by-step feed means operable "to feed the ribbons through the cutter assembly after leaving said guide means at a different rate tronrsai'd webieedinganechanism,

i4 and step by-step ribbon partition lengths feed means disposed ahead of said cutter assembly for feeding severed ribbon partition lengths through an assembly zone. 1

"11. In combination in a partition making machine, means for slitting a papenboard web into ribbons and for intermittently feeding the ribbons forwardly therefrom, additional feeding "means operable at a different rate of movement for intermittently feeding the ribbons spaced forwardly from said 'first mentioned feeding means, and 'a trough between and extendingbelow said two feeding means for receiving the ribbons, said trough being "of a depth to permit adequate slack in ribbons extending between said two intermittent feeding means "to reduce tearing to a minimum! '12. in combination, in a-partition making machine, means for slitting a paperboard we'b into ribbons and for intermittently feeding the ribbons forward-1y thereiro'm, additional feeding means op'erable at a different rate of movement for intermittently reading the ribbons spaced forwardly "from said first "mentioned feeding means, a trough between and extending below said two feeding means for receiving the ribbons, and partitions in said trough dividing the same into ribbon channels 'for preventing entangl-ing of ribbons, said trough being 'ofa depth topermit adequate slack in ribbons extending "between said two intermittent feeding means to reduce tearing "to a minimum.

13. In combination, in a partition "ma-king machine, timed associated 'mechanisms for diepunohing web, for slitting the die-punched web into ribbons, and for intermittently "feeding the ribbons forwardly, means for "turning theribbons from horizontal to vertical positions, means'ior severing the ribbons into partition lengths, means 'for intermittently feedingthe ribbons to and through said ribbon severing means, means forwardly of said severing means for intermittently "feeding severed partition lengths forwardly through an assembly zone, timed associated mechanisms for die-punching, intermittently feeding, and severing into transversely disposed partition lengths a second web, said 'iast men t'ioned severing mechan'ismbeing disposed for severance of the die-punched end 'of the second web after transverse interengagement with the .sevcred partition lengths of itheribbons, and mechanism for rendering said secondweb feed :mechanism inoperative to feed the second "web for one stroke of said associated die munching mechanism immediately following completion of .each pairtion assembly. I,

' 1.4. In combinationin apartitionmaking machine, timed associated mechanisms for diepunching a web, 'for slitting the die-punched web into ribbons, for intermittently feeding the ribbons ,iorwardly, means .for turning the ribbons from horizontal to vertical positions, means for severing the ribbons into partition lengths, means for intermittently feeding the 'ribhons to and through said ribbon severing-means, means between said two feeding means providing :for'a substantial slack in the ribbons :to prevent snapping thereof :during feeding, :and :means forwardly of said severing means .for intermittent- 1y feeding severed partition lengths forwardly through :an assembly zone, sa-id two needing means .adi acent said iribbon'servzeringtmeans being operahlerat'aieedingmaterdifierentitromdvhedeeding rate :of mob deedingmmohani'sm mil--135- '15 ing operable in shorter segments of movement than said web feeding mechanism.

15. In combination, in a partition making machine, reciprocatable means for simultaneously die-punching a portion of a web of material for subsequent slitting and severing to form a plurality of parallel partition lengths, means for intermittently feeding the die-punched web forwardly, means for slitting the die-punched web into a plurality of ribbons, means spaced forwardly of said slitting means for intermittently feeding the ribbons forwardly, said ribbon feeding means being operable a predetermined number of times for each feeding operation of said web feeding means, and means between said two feeding means providing for a substantial maximum slack in the ribbons so that said feeding means may function as aforesaid without snapping the ribbons.

16. In combination, in a partition making machine, reciprocatable means for simultaneously die-punching a portion of a web of material for subsequent slitting and severing to form a plurality of parallel partition lengths, means for intermittently feeding the die-punched web forwardly, means for slitting the die-punched web into a plurality of ribbons, means spaced forwardly of said slitting means for intermittently feeding the ribbons forwardly, said ribbon feeding means being operable a predetermined number of times for each feeding operation of said web feeding means, means between said two feeding means providing for a substantial maximum slack in the ribbons so that said feeding means may function as aforesaid without snapping the ribbons, ribbon severing means forwardly of said ribbon feeding means for severing the ribbons into partition lengths, and means forwardly of said severing means for intermittently feeding severed partition lengths forwardly through an assembly zone.

17. In combination, in a partition making machine, reciprocatable means for simultaneously die-punching a portion of a web of material for subsequent slitting and severing to form a plurality of parallel partition lengths, means for intermittently feeding the die-punched web forwardly,'means .for slitting the die-punched web into a plurality of ribbons, means spaced forwardly of said slitting means for intermittently feeding the ribbons forwardly, said ribbon feeding means being operable a predetermined number of times for each feeding operation of said web feeding means, means between said two feeding means providing for a substantial maximum slack in the ribbons so that said feeding means may function as aforesaid without snapping the ribbons, ribbon severing means forwardly of said ribbon feeding means for severing the ribbons into partition lengths, means forwardly of said severing means for intermittently feeding severed partition lengths forwardly through an assembly zone, means for die-punching a second web for severing to provide transverse partition lengths, means for intermittently feeding the second web through the associated die-punching means and the die-punched free end thereof into transverse interengaging relation with the severed ribbon partition lengths, and means for severing the die-punched free end of the second web after interengagement with the severed ribbon partition lengths.

18. In combination, ina partition making machine, reciprocatable means for simultaneously die-punching a portionof a web of material for 7 1 subsequent slitting and severing to form a plurality of parallel partition lengths, means for intermittently feeding the die-punched web forwardly, means for slitting the die-punched web into a plurality of ribbons, means spaced forwardly of said slitting means for intermittently feeding the ribbons forwardly, said ribbon feeding means being operable a predetermined number of times for each feeding operation of said web feeding means, means between said two feeding means providing for a substantial maximum slack in the ribbons so that said feeding means may function as aforesaid without snapping the ribbons, ribbon severing means forwardly of said ribbon feeding means for severing the ribbons into partition lengths, means forwardly of said severing means for intermittently feeding severed partition lengths forwardly through an assembly zone, means for die-punching a second web for severing to provide transverse partition lengths, means for intermittently feeding the second web through the associated die-punching means and the die-punched free end thereof into tranverse interengaging relation with the severed ribbon partition lengths, means for severing the diepunched free end of the second web after interengagement with the severed ribbon partition lengths, and means for rendering said second web feed means inoperative to feed the second web immediately following completion of each partition assembly to prevent feeding the second web between adjacent ends of severed ribbon partition lengths.

19. In combination, in a partition making machine, timed associated mechanisms for diepunching a web, for slitting the die-punched web int ribbons, and for intermittently feeding the ribbons forwardly, means for turning the ribbons from horizontal to vertical positions, means for severing the ribbons into partition lengths, means for intermittently feeding the ribbons to and through said ribbon severing means, said last mentioned ribbon feeding means comprising pivotally and reciprocably mounted fingers engageable with the die-punched ribbons in forward movement thereof, and means forwardly of said severing means for intermittently feeding severed partition lengths forwardly through an assembly zone, said forwardly disposed severed partition lengths feeding means comprising pivotally and reciprocably mounted fingers engageable with the die-punched severed partition lengths, said two groups of fingers being mounted for simultaneous forward and rearward motions, so that said forwardly disposed fingers when in operation move severed partition lengths forwardly through an assembly zone simultaneously with forward movement of the ribbons through the severing means by said ribbon feeding fingers with the severed partition strips, and severed partition lengths are maintained adjacently ahead of and in the same plane with the ribbons from which severed.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of side frame members, vertically reciprocatable web-punching mechanism, step-by-step rotative feed roll mechanism for feeding the web in a horizontal plane, slitters for slitting the web into ribbons, a trough to receive said ribbons having a bottom below the normal plane of the ribbons, and step-by-step feed means operable at a different rate from said web feeding means for feeding ribbons through said trough.

DONALD F. CUNNINGHAM.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Shepard Mar. 10, 1903 Shepard June 26, 1906 Swift June 2, 1903 Campus Sept. 16, 1913 Axcell Nov. 28, 1916 Beach Jan. 23, 1917 Segur et a1 Nov. 27, 1923 Numb er 

